We have officially passed Week 2 of both the NFL and College Football season. With all of this new information flooding in, let’s take a look at some buy-low candidates for the fantasy season, on top of looking into a couple of sell-high players, trade targets, and waiver wire additions you should make!
Buy Low Candidates
NFL:
- Sam Darnold – Quarterback
Two weeks in and Sam Darnold is on MVP pace. He’s fitting into this Minnesota Vikings offense seamlessly and hasn’t had a hiccup. The concerns that he only played well because he went up against a bad New York Giants team were thrown out of the window this weekend, as he replicated his success against the NFC Champs, the San Francisco 49ers.
- Josh Jacobs – Running Back
There’s a chance that people don’t realize how good Josh Jacobs has been this year. He’s tied for the league lead in rushing attempts, but he hasn’t scored a touchdown and isn’t very involved in the passing game. Combine that with Jordan Love being out for a few weeks, and Jacobs doesn’t appear to have great value. However, he’s going to continue producing.
- Brandon Aiyuk – Wide Receiver
Brandon Aiyuk hasn’t been incredible this season since holding out for that new contract. Here’s the thing, he’ll find a rhythm eventually. And if you aren’t convinced, then opportunity alone makes him a buy-low candidate moving forward. Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle have missed snaps due to injuries. Kittle should be alright, but still, Aiyuk is now the primary weapon in the offense.
- Mark Andrews – Tight End
Mark Andrews had a similarly disappointing game in Week 2, as he did in Week 1. He had just nine fantasy points this weekend though he was significantly more involved than Isaiah Likely, indicating that a big performance could be on the way. Andrews had more snaps, targets, and routes run in comparison to Likely.
College:
- Bynum Brown – Quarterback
Bynum Brown had big expectations for him this season. In the first two weeks, he didn’t have a touchdown and didn’t surpass 155 passing yards. This weekend, he had 193 yards and two passing touchdowns, while adding on 72 rushing yards and another touchdown. He’s always had rushing value, but if he starts consistently dishing out passing touchdowns, Brown will be a true threat.
- Abu Sama – Running Back
Abu Sama hasn’t scored a touchdown yet this season through two games. It likely has a lot of fantasy managers nervous, which makes him a perfect buy-low target. He has 22 rushes for 93 yards but went up against a very tough Iowa defense in his most recent outing.
- Ricky White – Wide Receiver
I have quite a bit of faith in Ricky White. In the opener, he had just two catches for 11 yards. The following week, he had five receptions for 111 yards and three touchdowns. Then, this weekend, he had just three catches for four yards. It’s an underwhelming week, but the team overall had just 86 passing yards, with White leading in targets with nine of them.
- Jack Velling – Tight End
Jack Velling has six receptions for 82 scoreless yards through three games this season. It’s been a disappointing start, though freshman quarterback Aidan Chiles is still getting used to everything. Once he does, Velling should see more targets, catches, and touchdowns.
Sell High Candidates
NFL:
- Trevor Lawrence – Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence is here on this list again because he’s just not done much of anything so far. Now, the majority of fantasy football quarterbacks haven’t been great in 2024, but Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars offense have been particularly underwhelming. He’s not shown much superstar potential, and it doesn’t seem like he will this year.
- Rachaad White – Running Back
Rachaad White hasn’t done much of anything on the ground in two weeks. In the season opener, he had 10 carries for 18 yards. This weekend, he had 15 carries for 31 yards. Meanwhile, Bucky Irving is starting to steal snaps from White. His value might only go lower in future weeks.
- Alec Pierce – Wide Receiver
Alec Pierce had a long touchdown in both weeks this season, but that’s not going to continue. Anthony Richardson and this Indianapolis Colts offense are far too unpredictable for that to be consistent. To make things worse for Pierce, Josh Downs will be returning to the field soon, and he hasn’t played a snap this year yet.
- Travis Kelce – Tight End
Travis Kelce was being taken in the first round in fantasy drafts, and many thought that he’d easily be the top tight end in the league. He has not been, nor has he been anywhere close. He’s got just four receptions for 39 yards through two weeks. It might be best to sell him high when people have confidence in the name alone.
College:
- Kaidon Salter – Quarterback
Kaidon Salter is still nowhere to be found. Despite getting three easy matchups this year, he’s got just 726 passing yards and three touchdowns without an interception, without rushing for a touchdown despite having 28 carries. Some still believe his hype is due to the year he had in 2023, but it’s looking like it might never come around.
- TreVeyon Henderson – Running Back
TreVeyon Henderson has had two good games so far. The problem is that he’s very touchdown-dependent, and he’s only scored in one game (scoring two). The Ohio State offense is so unpredictable on a week-to-week basis, and Henderson might have a future stretch where he doesn’t score at all, or scores five touchdowns.
- Germie Bernard – Wide Receiver
Germie Bernard is a good receiver, and he’s been consistent this season outside of a one-catch season-opening performance. However, his potential is limited due to Ryan Williams, and the Alabama offense overall has a tough schedule ahead with an unpredictable passing attack.
- Justin Joly – Tight End
Justin Joly is staying on this list because he once again had a solid game, though he just can’t seem to get into the end zone, limiting his fantasy potential overall. He’s getting enough targets to make him viable for a good trade. The lack of touchdowns and explosiveness in this offense could make him a tough bet all season long.
Strategic Insights
The best way that you can identify buy-low opportunities is to look for players that other managers seem to be bullish on. Players that might be on a cold stretch, or have gotten injured recently, look at their potential down the line. As for sell-high opportunities, if you foresee a player potentially dropping in production soon, then take advantage of their current value and ship them off for a great return rather than waiting and getting nothing when they drop off.
An example of a buy-low strategy would have been last season. Let’s say you see Puka Nacua get drafted and you had high hopes for him in the NFL, but the manager that owned him didn’t feel that way. You could aggressively try and trade for him because you see past his draft position and look at his potential. Then, Nacua has his breakout season, and you got him for almost nothing. The same goes the other way, if you have Tyreek Hill who says that he’s going to retire around 31, and you know he’s getting up there despite being a top player at his position, you can trade him away at peak value before he retires and get a great return.
Trade Targets
NFL:
- Kyler Murray – Quarterback
While improbable, Kyler Murray would be a fantastic trade pickup for anybody in need of a quarterback. Murray, in two games, has been unbelievable so far. He’s moving all over the pocket, picking up huge gains with his legs, connecting on deep shots down the field, and doing everything you want from a fantasy signal caller.
- Jordan Mason – Running Back
It might only be for a few weeks, but with Christian McCaffrey out of the lineup and officially on injured reserve, Jordan Mason is a must-have. He’s the complete workhorse in the backfield who’s on a wonderfully talented offense.
- Chris Olave – Wide Receiver
Chris Olavee had a disappointing season opener against the Carolina Panthers. This weekend, against a very talented Dallas Cowboys unit, Olave had just under a 40 percent target share in an offense that scored 40 plus points in back-to-back games.
- Brock Bowers – Tight End
Brock Bowers looks to be a genuine generational talent at tight end. He’s not had much recognition so far, but he’s already putting up great numbers. He’s got 125 receiving yards, making him the second-best player at his position this season. This is all without him getting into the end zone.
College:
- Kyler Murray – Quarterback
While improbable, Kyler Murray would be a fantastic trade pickup for anybody in need of a quarterback. Murray, in two games, has been unbelievable so far. He’s moving all over the pocket, picking up huge gains with his legs, connecting on deep shots down the field, and doing everything you want from a fantasy signal caller.
- Jordan Mason – Running Back
It might only be for a few weeks, but with Christian McCaffrey out of the lineup and officially on injured reserve, Jordan Mason is a must-have. He’s the complete workhorse in the backfield who’s on a wonderfully talented offense.
- Chris Olave – Wide Receiver
Chris Olavee had a disappointing season opener against the Carolina Panthers. This weekend, against a very talented Dallas Cowboys unit, Olave had just under a 40 percent target share in an offense that scored 40 plus points in back-to-back games.
- Brock Bowers – Tight End
Brock Bowers looks to be a genuine generational talent at tight end. He’s not had much recognition so far, but he’s already putting up great numbers. He’s got 125 receiving yards, making him the second-best player at his position this season. This is all without him getting into the end zone.
Strategic Insights:
The best advice that I can give regarding trades is to be respectful to the other managers. Don’t horrendously lowball somebody for a player, and don’t insult them to make trades. Be nice and respectful and understand the value that you’re going for. Your first offer should be just thrown out there to see what happens, but both you and the other manager should just slowly throw offers out to see what works for each of you.
Waiver Wire Watch
NFL:
- Derek Carr – Quarterback
Well, Derek Carr seems to be legit this season. The Saints’ new offensive scheme looks phenomenal, and Carr is thriving in it. He’s one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in the league this season and only around 15 percent of teams currently have him on their roster.
- Carson Steele – Running Back
The Kansas City Chiefs loved Carson Steele throughout the preseason, but everyone knew he would be stuck behind Isiah Pacheco in the offense. Pacheco has since fractured his fibula and should be out for a significant portion of the year, leaving the door open for Steele to take over and thrive.
- Jerry Jeudy – Wide Receiver
For whatever reason, the connection between Amari Cooper and Deshaun Watson is nonexistent right now. In that absence, Jerry Jeudy developed great chemistry with Watson and has had back-to-back solid games.
- Hunter Henry – Tight End
Hunter Henry has been one of those players that has big weeks, then disappears into the shadows. With the New England Patriots putting back-to-back strong games together, Henry should continue to at least get good looks in a new offense.
College:
- Eli Holstein – Quarterback
Eli Holstein has been rapidly picked up this week after a few great games. So far this season, the Pittsburgh quarterback has thrown for nine touchdowns, just under 1,000 yards, and only two interceptions. He’s putting up some great fantasy numbers consistently.
- Dijon Stanley – Running Back
Dijon Stanley has had a weird season. When rushing the football, he’s had just 11 carries for 55 total yards across three games without a touchdown. In the passing game, he’s been blanked twice, though the season opener saw him bring in three catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Utah needs to get him the ball, and they know that. He is a very strong boom-or-bust candidate.
- Mac Dalena – Wide Receiver
Mac Dalena has been consistent for Fresno State so far in 2024. He had 15 receptions for 384 yards and three touchdowns in three games. He’s scored in two of three matchups and surpassed 65 receiving yards in each of them.
- Alex Bauman – Tight End
Alex Bauman was blanked this weekend, having only one target and failing to haul that one in. However, he had three touchdowns in the previous two weeks and had 75 receiving yards in the process. There’s a chance for him to get more action moving forward, this seems like it could be an anomaly of a week.
Strategic Insights
The easiest way to prioritize waiver wire claims is to simply rank the players you want before going after them. Take them one at a time and understand that you’re not going to get all of them. Waiver wire claims usually go based on the order you place them in, so target your top guys first.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it is very important to keep up with things every week, otherwise, key players can slip through your fingers. Be sure to consistently search for buy-low, and sell-high opportunities, relentlessly look through the waiver wire markets, and don’t be afraid to shoot out a couple of trade offers if you’re interested. Use all of the above information to keep yourself at the top of the standings.